MoneyGram vs Remitly

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

MoneyGram

International money transfer service for sending cash, bank deposits and wallet payments in-app or in person.

Paid

Visit MoneyGram MoneyGram profile

Remitly

App for sending money abroad to bank accounts, mobile wallets and cash pickup points.

Free

Visit Remitly Remitly profile

The short answer

MoneyGram suits senders who want to pay in person or send to family who collect cash, thanks to nearly 500,000 retail locations. Remitly suits people sending regular remittances from a phone, with the fee and exchange rate shown before confirming. The biggest difference is channel: MoneyGram combines app, online and in-person sending, while Remitly is app and web only.

MoneyGram or Remitly: our take

Both services send money abroad to bank accounts, mobile wallets and cash pickup points, and both earn from transfer fees plus a margin in the exchange rate, so the total cost depends on the route, amount and payment method. Neither has a subscription.

MoneyGram's strength is its physical network. You can send in its app, online or in person at agent locations such as supermarkets, pharmacies and Walmart stores in the US, and its partner network reaches 200+ countries and territories. Recipients can collect cash nearby or receive money in a bank account, on a debit card or in a mobile wallet, depending on the country. In the US it also handles bill payments, money orders and mobile top-ups. Its fees and margins vary widely, and for bank-to-bank transfers it is often costlier than online-only services.

Remitly, based in Seattle, is built around its app and website. You can send from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, much of the EU and a few other countries to 175+ countries, and the app shows the fee, exchange rate and total before you send; many transfers arrive within minutes. Support is available in 18 languages, and Remitly Business covers paying overseas contractors and vendors. Paying by card often costs more than paying from a bank account, and you can only send from a limited list of countries.

Choose MoneyGram if you prefer paying in cash at a store, need cash pickup in a place with limited banking, or want bill pay in the US. Choose Remitly if you send money home regularly from a supported country and want to see the full cost up front in an app. For any given transfer, it is worth comparing the total both services quote.

Choose MoneyGram if…

People sending money to families who collect cash or use mobile wallets
Huge cash pickup network in over 200 countries and territories
Send in the app, online or in person

Choose Remitly if…

People sending regular remittances to family abroad, especially for cash pickup or mobile wallets
You want a free option (MoneyGram is paid only)
Sends to 170+ countries with bank, mobile wallet and cash pickup options
Fee and exchange rate shown before you confirm

What is MoneyGram?

MoneyGram is one of the largest international money transfer networks. You can send in its app, online, or in person at agent locations such as supermarkets, pharmacies and Walmart stores in the US, and recipients can collect cash nearby or receive money in a bank account, on a debit card or in a mobile wallet, depending on the country. Its partner network reaches more than 200 countries and territories, which makes it a common choice for cash-first families and places with limited banking. In the US it also handles bill payments, money orders and mobile top-ups. There's no subscription: each transfer carries a fee plus an exchange-rate margin that varies by amount, payment method, destination and delivery option, so comparing the total cost against online-first services is worthwhile. It suits people who need cash pickup or prefer to pay in person, rather than those sending large bank-to-bank sums. It runs on the web and in iPhone and Android apps.

What is Remitly?

Remitly is a Seattle-based remittance service built mainly for people who send money home to family in another country. You can send from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, much of the EU and a few other countries to recipients in 170-plus countries, with delivery to bank accounts, mobile wallets, or cash pickup locations depending on the destination. The app shows the fee, exchange rate and total before you send, and many transfers arrive within minutes. Remitly makes money from transfer fees and from the margin in its exchange rates, so the total cost varies by route and payment method, with cards often costing more than bank transfers. Support is offered in 18 languages. There is also Remitly Business for paying overseas contractors and vendors. Signing up is free; Remitly works on the web and in Android and iOS apps.

Side by side

Attribute	MoneyGram	Remitly
Pricing	Paid	Free
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Best for	People sending money to families who collect cash or use mobile wallets	People sending regular remittances to family abroad, especially for cash pickup or mobile wallets
Status	Active	Active